Bernard Kumordzi Inspires Black Starlets Ahead of Must-Win South Africa Clash
Former Ghana midfielder Bernard Yao Kumordzi has thrown his support behind the Black Starlets ahead of their decisive Group D showdown against South Africa at the 2026 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
Kumordzi paid a visit to the team during their final training session on Tuesday evening, where he addressed the players with a strong message of motivation as Ghana prepares for a match that could determine their hopes of progressing in the competition.
The former Black Stars midfielder urged the young players to approach the encounter with courage, commitment and a strong sense of national pride as they chase qualification to the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar later this year.
“This is the moment for all of you to fight for Ghana and fight for yourselves. Opportunities like this do not come every day in football, so you must give everything on the pitch and never stop fighting until the final whistle,” he told the squad.
Kumordzi also encouraged the players to remain mentally strong throughout the contest, insisting that the nature of football means fortunes can change quickly during a game.
“No matter what happens in the game, never give up. Keep pushing, keep believing, and continue fighting for each other because football can change within seconds.”
The former midfielder further praised head coach Prosper Narteh Ogum and his technical staff for the preparation and tactical work done with the team throughout the tournament.
“The coaches have done a very good job preparing this team and you can see the quality in the way you play. Now it is left with you, the players, to go onto the field and show the same hunger and determination.”
The Black Starlets head into Wednesday’s fixture knowing that victory could revive their campaign and significantly improve their chances of advancing from Group D while keeping alive their dream of returning to the FIFA U-17 World Cup.
